Sixth Annual Bed-Stuy Alive! Kicks Off With Gala Street Festival

On Saturday, October 9, 2010, Sixth Annual Bed-Stuy Alive! Celebration will kick off with a gala festival that will span Fulton Street, from Marcy to Brooklyn Avenues. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the street will be filled with music, food, information booths, and the Third Annual Tohma Y. Faulkner Community Awards ceremony. MAAFA Suite “A Healing Journey” will be a must see feature performance at the ceremonies. The festival is the official opening of several events that celebrate the history, culture, culinary and commercial vibrancy of the Bedford Stuyvesant community According to Anna Bloodworth, chair of this year’s event, “Alive! is a celebration of the people of this wonderful neighborhood. We want our neighbors and New Yorkers from all over to come out and join the fun on two exciting Saturdays.” All kick-off events are free. Last year’s event drew record crowds despite the unusual rain and wind.

In addition to the awards ceremony on October 9th, Restoration Rocks, sponsored by the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, will get feet tapping and hands clapping with a host of live talent that will feature an all female line up including Tamar-kali, Jean Grae, and Invincible with DJ Rimarkable spinnin on the ones and twos. All kinds of wonderful crafts and merchandise will be on sale, and foodies will be able to munch on everything from roti to tantalizing deserts as an introduction to the Annual Taste of Bed-Stuy. The historic Fulton Art Fair and the Bedford Stuyvesant Artists’ Association will exhibit works from a number of African-American fine artists. The Fulton Art Fair is in its 52nd year, and has counted among its members founder Dolores Inniss-Carty, and artists Jacob Lawrence, Ernest Crichlow and Otto Neals.

The Alive! celebration continues on Sunday, October 10th at 10:00 a.m. with the 29th Annual 10K Run/Walk . Individuals and community groups of all kinds are encouraged to join in the fun, and take part in the Foodtown fitness challenge. Registration can be done online at www.restorationplaza.org, or by calling (718) 636-6953. Teams of five or more can register for $15.00 per person. Sponsorship is available for $100.00 or more. The Run is known as a premier warm-up for the New York City Marathon.